Album Review: Nattehimmel – Mourningstar (Hammerheart Records)

Carl Fisher 2 min read

Former In the Woods… members deliver epic Norwegian black metal that takes you into the night sky! It’s Nattehimmel and they contain the spirit of 90’s black metal. Their debut full-length album, ‘Mourningstar’ will be released on May 19th, 2023.

It’s a haunting start with the introductory title track, short and dramatic, it flows in an expressive way and leads into the monumentally blackened heaviness of Astrologer. The atmosphere is thick, giving this track an epic stance. The soundscape enhanced by crashing instruments and vocals that alternate between soaring cleans and demonic filth.

That’s just the start though and with Each Man a Constellation, Nattehimmel feed the black fire with even more fuel to create something more akin to an inferno. Followed then by the tempo shift and dark doomy feel of Armies of Tiamet, the lingering ambience and emphatic riffing of Slay the Shepherd, and the experimental malaise of Mountain of the Northern Kings.

Nattehimmel showcasing a surprising amount of variety in their sound, while staying true to the unbending will of black metal. It just so happens that they have an inimitable ability to transform the traditional harshness into something so much grander.

Case in point, the extravagant and wandering sound of Realm of Hades, and the bristling, manic power of The Immortals. Before this epic wraps up with a tome of darkness in the form of The Nightsky Beckons. The atmosphere and vocals of this track are poignant, but it is balanced out by fierce instrumentation.

It’s a very strong release showcasing that there is plenty of life in Nattehimmel and while darkness surrounds them because of the music they play, their future is looking extremely bright.

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Nattehimmel – Mourningstar Track Listing:

1. Mourningstar (Intro)
2. Astrologer
3. Each Man a Constellation
4. Armies of Tiamat
5. Slay the Shepherd
6. Mountain of the Northern Kings
7. Realm Of Hades
8. The Immortals
9. The Nightsky Beckons




Links

Bandcamp | Facebook | Hammerheart Records

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Nattehimmel - Mourningstar (Hammerheart Records)
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